What's happened
A recent incident at Barstool Sansom Street in Philadelphia involved customers displaying an antisemitic message, leading to national outrage. The bar's owner, Dave Portnoy, initially offered the customers a trip to Auschwitz for education but later revoked the offer after one denied responsibility. Temple University has suspended a student involved.
What's behind the headline?
Key Insights:
- Rising Antisemitism: The incident reflects a broader trend of increasing antisemitic acts in the U.S., with over 10,000 incidents reported in the last year.
- Public Reaction: The outrage from the public and media underscores the sensitivity surrounding hate speech and discrimination, especially in educational environments.
- Portnoy's Response: Dave Portnoy's initial offer for a learning trip to Auschwitz was an attempt to turn a negative incident into a teachable moment, but his subsequent revocation of the offer raises questions about accountability and sincerity.
- Institutional Actions: Temple University's swift suspension of the involved student and the bar's firing of employees indicate a zero-tolerance approach to hate speech, but the effectiveness of these measures in preventing future incidents remains to be seen.
- Cultural Context: The incident occurs against the backdrop of heightened tensions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has contributed to a rise in antisemitic sentiments across the U.S.
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, the incident at Barstool Sansom Street involved a customer arranging letters into an antisemitic message, which has sparked nationwide outrage. The bar's owner, Dave Portnoy, expressed his anger and initially offered the customers a trip to Auschwitz as a learning experience, stating, 'Let’s try to like turn a hideous incident into maybe a learning experience.' However, as reported by The Independent, Portnoy later revoked this offer after one customer denied responsibility, saying he was merely a 'citizen journalist.' Temple University President John Fry condemned the actions, calling antisemitism 'abhorrent' and emphasizing that it has no place at the university. This incident has drawn attention to the rising antisemitism in the U.S., with the Anti-Defamation League reporting a record high of antisemitic incidents in the past year.
How we got here
The incident occurred on May 3, 2025, when a customer at Barstool Sansom Street requested a sign with an antisemitic message. This event highlights a troubling rise in antisemitism in the U.S., with incidents tripling in the past year according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Go deeper
- What actions has Temple University taken?
- How has the public reacted to this incident?
- What are the statistics on antisemitism in the U.S.?
Common question
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What Happened with David Portnoy's Auschwitz Trip Offer?
David Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, recently found himself at the center of controversy after revoking an offer for a trip to Auschwitz. This decision stemmed from a troubling incident involving antisemitic behavior at his bar. As the situation unfolds, many are left wondering about the implications for Barstool Sports and the broader conversation around antisemitism. Here are some common questions and answers regarding this incident.
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Temple University is a state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist minister Russell Conwell. On May 12, 1888, it was renamed the Temple College of Philadelphia. By 1907, the institution revised it
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Philadelphia ( FIL-ə-DEL-fee-ə), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the sixth-most populous city in the United States with a population of 1.6 million at the 2020 census, while the Phi
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Barstool Sports is a sports and pop culture blog founded by David Portnoy in 2003 in Milton, Massachusetts. The site, whose two primary investors are The Chernin Group and Penn National Gaming, is currently headquartered in New York City.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state located in the Northeastern, Great Lakes, Appalachian, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The Appalachian Mountains run through its middle.